Milk Cup 2009: Brady fires Reds into the final

United will go head-to-head with Sheffield United in tomorrow’s Northern Ireland Milk Cup final after overcoming Fenerbahce 2-1 in a tense and incident-packed last four clash at the Ballymena Showgrounds. The Turkish side had the better of the opening exchanges and took the lead through Semih, but the game swung in a dramatic two minute spell at the end of the first half that saw Joshua King equalise for the Reds and Fener defender Okan sent off for handball on the line. Skipper Robbie Brady missed the resulting penalty, but went from villain to hero in the second half as he grabbed the crucial winning goal seven minutes from time to send United into their third successive final.

Milk Cup 2009: Reds hold their nerve to dispatch Desportivo on penalties

It was nailbiting stuff on the north coast this evening as United’s Milk Cup hopes were kept alive with a dramatic 6-5 penalty shootout victory over Desportivo Brasil at the Limavady Showgrounds. After a hard-fought seventy minutes that saw the deadlock remain unbroken, centre-half Sean McGinty struck the winning spot-kick to send the Reds into the semi-finals.

Milk Cup draw throws up contrasting early opposition

The draw for the 2009 Northern Ireland Milk Cup has been made, and United now know the identity of their first two opponents as they seek to defend the trophy they won in terrific style last year.

Blue Stars 2009: An overview

With the official Blue Stars tournament website lacking somewhat in terms of the accuracy of its match stats (scorers, lineups etc) and the detail of its match reports, we’re delighted to be able to bring you an in-depth and accurate report on United’s two days in Zurich from someone who was there and saw the action unfold.

Blue Stars 2009: Day 2

Two draws, just the one goal, a penalty shootout and, ultimately, a creditable fifth place in the tournament for MUFC. Read on for all the news from the second day of this year’s Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup.

Blue Stars 2009: Day 1

It would be fair to describe United’s first day of this year’s Blue Stars as something of an up and down one. With a win, a draw and a crushing defeat, the Reds’ hopes of contesting the final tomorrow afternoon are hanging by a thread.

Attention turns to the Blue Stars

With the domestic season all wrapped up at both Reserve and Academy level, United’s youngsters have one last chance to shine in 2008/09 before heading off on their summer holidays – the 2009 Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup in Zurich, Switzerland, which starts tomorrow (Wednesday).